Page 203 of Bitter Poetry

I join Leon and Mateo. Our soldiers spread out within the bounds of our patch of the warehouse, alert in the face of so many threats.

Ahead of us, emerging from the back of his Cadillac Escalade, is Ettore Gallo.

He walks forward, two of his soldiers flanking him.

To his right, Grigory Koslov stands flanked by his men.

They share a look.

The Pakhan’s expression is neutral.

Ettore is barely contained smug as he turns to Leon and me.

“You’re missing someone vital.”

“So are you,” Leon replies.

Ettore doesn’t quickly mask his reaction to Leon speaking.

“You thought I returned to America to manage a nightclub?” Leon smiles without warmth. “How very naïve of you, Ettore.”

“Don Gallo to you.”

Leon inclines his head. “Don Gallo, your wife is in the car behind me. I believe in honor within the bounds of business. You will find she has been untouched and unharmed during her time as our guest, her escape, and the subsequent period as our guest once again. Now, where is my cousin?”

A tic thumps in Ettore’s jaw. Maybe Leon’s jibe about honor…

He waves to his men.

CARMELA

I watch Dante and Leon walk away. It should comfort me that there is bulletproof glass between me and danger.

It doesn’t. I’d rather be at their sides.

Christian is here, close.

“How is he?”I asked.

“Not good,”Dante replied.

God, I want this to be over and for Christian to be back.

I can’t see much through the front window as Dante and Leon are in positions that block my view.

They have a plan.

Dante offered no details, but I know he has one.

I didn’t trust him before when he first took me. In my defense, I’ve been burned. I trusted my father when he said I should marry Ettore. Look where that got me.

Then I trusted Ettore to care for me, and all that got me was scars and a fear of certain acts of intimacy that started even before there was ink drying on our marriage certificate.

My once unshakable trust in the men in my life has been shattered. It’s hard to let go of being strong and protecting myself as best as possible.

It’s hard to believe in something good.

Today, I do.